What Is a Deviated Septum?
A deviated septum (septal deviation) occurs when the thin wall that separates your nostrils, called the septum, is off-center or crooked. When the septum is straight, air can move evenly through both sides. When it is deviated, one or both sides can become narrowed, making it harder to breathe comfortably.
Some people are born with a septal deviation, while others develop it after an injury, such as a broken nose or trauma during sports or an accident. Common symptoms of a deviated septum include ongoing nasal congestion, difficulty breathing through the nose, and a "blocked" feeling that doesn't respond to sprays or medications.
A deviated septum is a structural issue, which means it can only be corrected through a surgery called septoplasty. At Beach Cities ENTS, our surgeons have extensive experience performing septoplasty to improve airflow and help our patients breathe more easily. Your provider will help you determine if septoplasty is the appropriate treatment based on your symptoms and how much your septal deviation is affecting your breathing.
If you have a hard time breathing through your nose, especially at night or during exercise, you might be living with an undiagnosed septal deviation. Schedule a consultation at Beach Cities ENTS in Torrance or El Segundo, CA to learn how we can help.
Deviated Septum FAQ
How long does septoplasty surgery take?
Most septoplasty procedures are completed in about 30 to 90 minutes and are typically performed as outpatient surgery. Your ENT specialist will explain the surgical process and provide personalized instructions before your procedure.
Will medications fix a deviated septum?
Medications such as nasal sprays or allergy treatments may temporarily relieve symptoms like congestion, but they cannot straighten a crooked nasal septum. When symptoms are caused by the structure of the nose, septoplasty is the procedure designed to correct the deviation.
Can a deviated septum cause chronic sinus infections?
A deviated septum can restrict airflow and interfere with normal sinus drainage, increasing the likelihood of recurring sinus infections and chronic congestion. Correcting the underlying structural problem with septoplasty may help reduce these issues for appropriate candidates.
How Is Septoplasty Performed?
During your appointment, your Beach Cities ENTS specialist will learn more about your symptoms and examine your nasal structure to determine if your septum is deviated and whether surgery is appropriate. If so, we'll schedule your septoplasty and review pre-surgery instructions you'll need to follow.
Septoplasty is typically performed with general anesthesia and takes 30 – 90 minutes for most patients. Once you're sedated, your surgeon will make incisions inside the nose to hide any post-surgery scars. Once they have access to the septum, they'll carefully lift the membrane (called the nasal mucosal lining) from both sides and remove or reshape the septal cartilage. After moving the septum to its proper shape, they will reattach the mucosal lining and close all incisions with dissolvable sutures.
What Are the Benefits of Surgery for a Deviated Septum?
Sprays or medications can help relieve nasal congestion temporarily, but they aren't designed to correct structural problems. Septoplasty offers long-lasting relief for symptoms caused by a deviated septum, allowing air to move freely through both sides of the nose. The benefits of septoplasty performed by our ENT specialists in Torrance and El Segundo, CA include:
- Making it easier to breathe through your nose throughout the day
- Reducing the need to breathe through your mouth, especially at night
- Improving airflow during exercise and physical activity
- Helping you sleep more comfortably without constant congestion
- Decreasing that "always stuffy" feeling in your nose
- Supporting clearer, more natural speech
Deviated Septum Reviews
It's been an extraordinary experience!! I Highly Recommend Doctor: Nathan A. Eivaz, MD. (Surgeon) He did my nose surgery.(Septoplasty).Awesome! Thank you! Office staff very professional.
I’ve been consulting on a deviated septum for the last several months Their staff is friendly and I get in quickly. Dr. Eivaz is careful, informative and patient. He expressed concern regarding the long-term outcome of a standard, lowly-invasive procedure and gave me a referral to a plastic surgeon for a procedure he opines would have a higher probability of success. I haven’t yet decided, but it’s comforting to know that Dr. Eivaz is more concerned about successful outcomes for his patients than higher billables. Thank you!
Highly recommend Dr. Maher Sesi, he was able to answer all of my questions & thoroughly explain his reasoning behind them. As for the location, his office has a convenient (large) parking lot and was easy to navigate. I've had multiple friends who have gotten their deviated septum fixed by Dr. Sesi, so I feel in good hands based on his very extensive background + years of experience!
Dr. Brett Levine is such a great doctor.After some different treatments, it was determined that I needed a septoplasty, endoscopic sinus surgery, as well as have a legion removed from the base of my tongue.I had them done all at once. I healed so quickly and feel better than I ever have in my life. I highly recommend you give him a try. I will be with him as long as he is practicing and close enough to drive to.The ONE thing I would say could be improved is the front office, but it's not even enough to dock him a star. They have been confused about co-pays, given me wrong information, and even wrong appointment times compared to what they had down. This isn't every visit, and we are talking about many over the course of a couple years. If you can be patient with them, Dr. Levine is absolutely worth it.He deserves your trust and why not give him a try?
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Reliable Care for Breathing Concerns
A deviated septum is a treatable issue. If breathing through your nose has become a daily struggle, a simple evaluation by our providers at Beach Cities ENTS can help you understand what's causing it and what can be done to fix it. Schedule an appointment at our ENT offices in Torrance or El Segundo, CA to find out if you're a candidate for septoplasty.